Silly Season transfer rumours.....

First topic message reminder :

Well its that time of year...pushing for new contracts...the rumour mill starts to fly...

Any you hear...post them here.....

The first two I've heard...

Priestland to Bath
Carl Fearns - Bath to Falcons.

The Saint wrote:Soon france will have more South african players than South africa!

Not a problem (and a lot of them have french ancestors) we will select them in our national team . That's our plan to become world champion, buy the best young players around the world like Qatar in handball. We will become better and the other nations will become weaker.

Driver wrote:Been a good player for both Falcons and Saints over the years, my favorite ever Falcon when i think about it.

Going to leave Saints a bit short on backrow cover especially at 8 with Samoa off across the pond.

Dickinson back to 8, but who will cover him. Dowson has been Saints utility forward for a long time, can play across the back row at a high standard Doland and Fisher can play 8, but are largely untried at AP level.

Gibson plays 6,7 and 8.

Welly wrote: Gibson plays 6,7 and 8.

He played 8 in a fairly loose London Irish side, but one that had Steffon Armitage in it, so the need for a big ball carrier was reduced. For me Gibson is not an effective enough carrier in tight exchanges to play for Saints.

If you put him at 8 in the Northampton side, with Clark and Wood at flanker, I struggle to see where the carrying comes from.

Confirmed: James Downey from Glasgow to Wasps on loan until the end of season.

George Carlin wrote:Confirmed: James Downey from Glasgow to Wasps on loan until the end of season.

An odd one, as surely the international window was why he was signed for Glasgow in the first place. He clearly has not settled there or has been deemed no longer good enough. I would be surprised if he comes back.

BigGee wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Confirmed: James Downey from Glasgow to Wasps on loan until the end of season.

An odd one, as surely the international window was why he was signed for Glasgow in the first place. He clearly has not settled there or has been deemed no longer good enough. I would be surprised if he comes back.

Yes, it's properly crazy with all of our other mainstream centres (Dunbar, Bennett, Lamont and Horne) all out on international duty.

Good job we've still got Richie 'Mike Gibson shines my boots' Vernon as an option.

Just read about Foley coming to the Prem. I'd love it to be at Quins, we need a big name 10 to replace Nev for the future and Foley would be a ready made option. Far better then Botica.

Big name tens are expensive. Tigers have bigger issues and I'd thought the Quins boys would be eyeing up some big ball carrying monster for the backrow.

I wouldn't say no to a new 10 at LI ...

Irish have signed a fly half apparently. To be announced soon according to Bob Casey at tonight's STH event.

Fingers crossed for a good 'un ... based on current recruitment I'm hopeful.

yappysnap wrote:Just read about Foley coming to the Prem. I'd love it to be at Quins, we need a big name 10 to replace Nev for the future and Foley would be a ready made option. Far better then Botica.

Rumour has it that it's Newcastle.

Interesting - where does that come from Saint?

Falcons fans seem to think he is linked there.

But imo it not going to happen.

Me neither and not 100% a top class 10 is a priority with TC playing so well.

news just come out that George Robson is leaving at the end of the season to join Oyonnax. I am stunned by this! We'll really miss him at Quins and next season looks even tougher now without his on field leadership and all round skills. Horwill is going to have to hit the ground running if we're to keep up with the big spending Prem teams around us.

We seriously need to bring in some more players.

Nah he's not coming here..

And with Tom Catterick playing class and even Clegg looking ok...id prefer a less expensive option at 10 and focus on the front row.

Though it appears we have signed Ben Harris the Leeds LH prop. Cracking signing...

So Henson IS now a Bristol player and Homer IS NOW a Bath player and will prob be playing for them next weekend.

Takes care of there kicking issues with Devoto

These mid season releases from contracts seem to be becoming more common. Certainly his boot will come in useful while Ford is off with England.

Huge news for us. We now have a goal kicker in the squad for the weekend. Still going to be threadbare for Saracens though.

With Lahiff and Homer, this London Irish migration doesn't seem to be slowing!

So do Bath have more London irish academy products in their senior squad than Bath academy product?

Bathite wrote:Huge news for us. We now have a goal kicker in the squad for the weekend. Still going to be threadbare for Saracens though.

With Lahiff and Homer, this London Irish migration doesn't seem to be slowing!

Homer, Rokodugini, Burgess, Eastmond, Banahan, Devoto, Cook.

Yeah, threadbare backline, gutted for you mate!

Slightly odd that LI have agreed to this. Money changing hands?

What have Irish got left to play for?

Welly wrote: So do Bath have more London irish academy products in their senior squad than Bath academy product?

Bath probably have more LI academy products in their senior squad than LI!!

Lahiff, Sisi, Garvey, Banahan, Watson, Joesph, Homer = 7 LI products
KPN, Catt, Spencer, Mercer, Cook, Williams, Woodburn = 7 Bath product

Breaking even ATM.

London Irish I think have 5 Academy products:
Paice, Geragthy, Armitage, Ojo, Low,

To be fair, Spencer, KPN, Williams and Woodburn have little chance of being in a matchday squad, but you have missed out Devoto and Ewels

Ewels is in your academy squad not senior squad.

But I did forget Devoto

Ewels has played senior rugby all season though, including Europe

Bathite wrote:Ewels has played senior rugby all season though, including Europe

Maybe but he isn't in your senior squad.

He is still academy despite having 1st team experience. As is Tom Dunn, despite him playing in the Amlin final last year. Both have signed contracts that promotes them to the senior squad in 2015/6.
Of course given that they all train together the distinction is a blurred one.

Bernard Foley wont be going to the Aviva premiership. He has signed a 2 year deal to play in japan and also a deal to play for Australia at 7s in the Olympics with a return to Australia in 2017 for the build up to the 2019 world cup.

So hes going to build up his bank balance...why else would you go to Japan when your his age?

GeordieFalcon wrote:So hes going to build up his bank balance...why else would you go to Japan when your his age?

To avoid having to tackle anyone of any size? Hopefully Tim Visser will not make this connection or we won't see him for dust.

He give a pretty bad reason as too knocking back Falcons and i know he got a pretty good offer.

I just cant fathom why a guy at 25 yo and who is the Aussie FH would go to Japan on a 2 year deal...other than money.

At least those coming to France for the money have to face quality teams and players...

Of course it's money, he'd get at least double what he would get in the AP. I doubt he was ever a realistic target tbh, why would he come to Falcons?

Ps ...What was the reason Driver?

Oh I didn't either Sgt

BUt there were talks of other clubs...far better than anything in Japan.

Money is obviously the main factor, but I imagine the proximity to home is certainly another one. Moving to Europe is basically a life-move. Everything has to come with you, including family. Chances of going home to see parents, friends and extended family is basically tiny. Playing in Japan, which is a lot closer and has a much shorter season is less of an upheaval.

It probably isn't the most ambitious of moves, but there are reasons besides money.

Well he can play in a world cup, then make a load of money without getting flogged in France, play in an Olympic games (with a decent chance of a medal) and then go back home for a stab at another world cup (which will be played in locations he would be familiar with already).

It doesn't sound too bad to me!

ps. Bosch Burgess will be a good collision. Love Bosch, such a brilliantly underrated player

Munster rumoured to be close to signing Creevy and Francisd Saili

Fluxy wrote:Munster rumoured to be close to signing Creevy and Francisd Saili

Is Creevy a TH? They'll be a pretty strong force again with those signings!

Creevy is the argie Hooker (and captain)

Can't believe Saili would leave NZ at this time. Before Fekitoa, he was the next in line to replace Nonu/Smith. With both of them signing in France after the RWC, there's a real shortage of centres. Granted SBW is back and Fekitoa and Crotty are there, but surely his time is now?

Welly wrote: Creevy is the argie Hooker (and captain)

Good signing, but they don't really need a hooker. They could do with a decent replacement for Botha, but to be fair anyone would be a step up from him.

Saili is a very gifted inside centre. Exactly the player Munster need in their midfield (most sides would make room for him). I think Creevy would settle well in the big red pack. Very mobile abrasive hooker.

Tom Heathcote to Worcester, apparently:
http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/story/256585.html

I mean, WTF?